MOVIE NEWS – What happens when an emotionless robot can’t stop laughing on set? Apple TV+’s sci-fi hit Murderbot is a blend of deadpan android antics and sharp comedy, leaving even its star, Alexander Skarsgård, struggling to keep it together. Sometimes, it takes a true actor to play a robot who’s dying to crack up!

Apple TV+ continues to deliver one hit sci-fi series after another, and Murderbot brings a fresh twist to the lineup with a heavy dose of comedy. The show follows a SecUnit robot (played by Alexander Skarsgård) who gains free will but is forced onto a perilous mission on a hostile planet—though the real challenge is keeping a straight face. Skarsgård recently revealed to CinemaBlend that sometimes, playing a robot is less about being emotionless and more about resisting laughter.

In his interview, Skarsgård explained how tricky it was to stay in character, especially in scenes with Anna Konkle (Leebeebee), who throws herself into wildly awkward romantic moments. Leebeebee misreads the robot’s total lack of interest as sexual chemistry, culminating in a hilariously misguided kiss attempt while Murderbot just stands there blank-faced. “I was struggling. I can’t lie, I was struggling because they are so funny, the other actors,” Skarsgård recalled. Anna’s unpredictable improvisation made it nearly impossible for him not to break character.

Fun fact: Leebeebee doesn’t appear in the original Martha Wells books and only shows up in episode 5 of the show—just like another Apple TV+ sci-fi, Silo, Murderbot is based on a book series. Skarsgård admitted that some takes were ruined simply because he couldn’t help laughing at Konkle’s antics. “I think we finally got it, but that was one of quite a few days where it was hard to be just an emotionless robot.”

With only three episodes left in this debut season, fans are eager to see how closely Murderbot will stick to Wells’ All Systems Red. While Skarsgård may have cracked up off camera, on screen he and his co-stars have delivered a stellar performance that makes Murderbot a must-watch comedy sci-fi.

Source: CinemaBlend